Solution to the screechy noise behind the dashboard - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tivoliman · #1 12-28-2002, 11:53 PM

In an earler posting I asked for help identifying a sqeek.

Many were helpful, and many asked to learn how the issue is resolved.

This is the resolution.

Answer to the screechy noise behind the dashboard

In an earlier posting, I asked about a loud screechy noise behind the passenger side air vent.

The answer per this forum was that the aspirator blow required replacement.

That was absolutely correct. I took the following steps to correct the situation.

Time invested ½ hour removing old blower, ½ hour adding new blower.
Cost of blower: Dealer $51.00 (after MBCA parts discount of 10%)

Steps taken:
1 – Removed the glove compartment box. (Screws and pop plugs)
2 – Removed right side air director (small screw driver. and pried the locking tabs up to pull the vent out. Care was taken not to break the tabs.
3 – The aspirator more was laying there with sponge rubber “holding” it in place – no bolts.
4 – Removed electric plug and small rubber tube.
5 – With a small knife, I removed the sponge rubber around the old motor, then applied it to the new motor with some “sticky glue”
6 – Replacement is the reverse of the removal.

This was NOT a difficult job. The only tools I used were a flat screw driver to remove the plugs and the pry the tabs. Philips head screw driver to remove the screws holding the latch in and a small knife to remove the sponge rubber.

I now have a peaceful and quiet car.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Comment: The blower was a stock item – no waiting.

SRHARVEY · #2 05-14-2006, 04:58 PM

I read the posts from owners with similar noises from the air vents but they talk about the aspirator or air motor behind the glove box. We have a 124 TE with an air bag on that side, no glove box. When I look in the passenger air vent I can't seem to find any way to remove it to access the air sampler motor. Any help out there for my problem??? The noise goes away after a few minutes but is very annoying to be such a pipqueek kind of thing. Thanks for any replies
srharvey

'93 300TE 4Matic
'83 240D
'82 380 SL
All still going strong.

Ron in SC · #3 05-14-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

air bag on that side

Disconnet battery.

Remove passenger mat, carpet and black plastic panel on floor and disconnect red plug.

Look straight up from the floor toward the air bag unit and you will be an access hole in the middle. Stick a 10 mm socket with suitable extension and remove bolt that's about 6" long, then remove air bag unit, disconnet the wires on the back of the air bag unit, there are two.

This procedure should work. I removed mine as part of dash removal for new evaporator so I removed my air bag unit after I had removed some other dash parts.

kramlavud · #4 05-14-2006, 06:46 PM

This is how I solved the same problem on my 94 E320. Remove the air vent on the passenger side. Remove the cover under the dash using a socket (10mm?) on a 6 inch extension. Now you have access for each hand - left hand from below and right hand through the open vent. Pull the air sampler motor/fan (enclosed in foam insulation) up and out through the vent; once removed you will see it is held in place by two flat spring clips. Disconnect the electrical harness, and remove the motor/fan from the foam insulation. Repalcement is the reverse of removal. Total job should be less than an hour.
regards,
Mark

Roncallo · #5 05-14-2006, 08:23 PM

Please tell us what kind of car are we talking about.

John Roncallo

Quote:

Originally Posted by tivoliman

In an earler posting I asked for help identifying a sqeek.

Many were helpful, and many asked to learn how the issue is resolved.

This is the resolution.

Answer to the screechy noise behind the dashboard

In an earlier posting, I asked about a loud screechy noise behind the passenger side air vent.

The answer per this forum was that the aspirator blow required replacement.

That was absolutely correct. I took the following steps to correct the situation.

Time invested ½ hour removing old blower, ½ hour adding new blower.
Cost of blower: Dealer $51.00 (after MBCA parts discount of 10%)

Steps taken:
1 – Removed the glove compartment box. (Screws and pop plugs)
2 – Removed right side air director (small screw driver. and pried the locking tabs up to pull the vent out. Care was taken not to break the tabs.
3 – The aspirator more was laying there with sponge rubber “holding” it in place – no bolts.
4 – Removed electric plug and small rubber tube.
5 – With a small knife, I removed the sponge rubber around the old motor, then applied it to the new motor with some “sticky glue”
6 – Replacement is the reverse of the removal.

This was NOT a difficult job. The only tools I used were a flat screw driver to remove the plugs and the pry the tabs. Philips head screw driver to remove the screws holding the latch in and a small knife to remove the sponge rubber.

I now have a peaceful and quiet car.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Comment: The blower was a stock item – no waiting.

SRHARVEY · #6 05-14-2006, 09:42 PM

Thanks for repeating your earlier explanation. That still does not help me since I do not have a glove box, as my post explained. I have an air bag in that location with the air vent outboard of the air bag. I would appreciate any help in getting into that part of the air system. Thanks for the help. This is on a '93 300TE 4Matic. This is a staion wagon, body style 124.

srhavey

SRHARVEY · #7 05-15-2006, 07:31 AM

Thanks, Ron and Mark, for a bit more information on accessing the air motor and passenger air vent stuff. This is on a '93 TE 4Matic. Does the bolt you both mention that is removed with the 10mm socket remove only the panel under the dash or does it also hold the passenger air bag in place. It sounds like Mark only needed to get the panel outof the way and not remove the air bag. I would, of course, like to not mess with the air bag if that is possible. If the air bag does have to come out I assume it removes from the dash front back toward the seat and not dropping down.

I don't see any clips in the air direction fitting opening. There are two plastic retainers coming up through the bottom of the unit flange. I've tried these but have not hit the right combination of tools to compress both sets at the same time. Maybe I'm not there yet. My '93 may be different than your '94, Ron.

I realize some of this becomes self explanatory once you are there but it always helps someone like me to have as much prior information as I can get. I always feel like I'm walking on very thin ice.

Thanks, boys, I'll be watching for any further information. srharvey

Ron in SC · #8 05-15-2006, 08:03 AM

My TE is a 1992.

Does the bolt you both mention that is removed with the 10mm socket remove only the panel under the dash or does it also hold the passenger air bag in place.
Holds airbag unit in place. I did remove lower panel too but that was because removed entire dash. There are other bolts and I think one screw to remove that panel under dash.

It sounds like Mark only needed to get the panel outof the way and not remove the air bag. I would, of course, like to not mess with the air bag if that is possible. If the air bag does have to come out I assume it removes from the dash front back toward the seat and not dropping down
I really don't know what the easiest way to do this job. I do know taking the airbag unit out is easy. I'd try to see if you can access that little motor by removing airbag only and if not do the lower panel and maybe airbag too.

Your assumption relative to how airbag comes out is correct.

kramlavud · #9 05-15-2006, 08:08 AM

Yes, I needed to remove only the lower panel, did not remove or re-arrange the airbag.

To remove the air vent I used 2 small picks (could use very small flat screwdrivers if picks are not available) to release the 4 metal clips that secure the vent. Start by simultaneously releasing the clips on 1 side and pull the vent out a bit on that side. Repeat on the other side. I put a piece of duct tape on a vent fin to prevent marring and pulled firmly using long nosed pliers.

Really pretty easy. However if you damage the vent, I'll bet another can be found in a slavage yard. Good Luck.

regards,
Mark

tivoliman · #10 05-23-2006, 09:56 PM

the original post related to a 201 chassis

1992 190e 2.6e

SRHARVEY · #11 05-24-2006, 08:36 PM

As usual, you guys have been a big help in taking apart a tricky little device.
I was able to remove the passenger side air vent without mishap following the advice given on this site. I did use two small finishing nails that would fit into the holes in the metal clips. I could then squeeze the nails together to raise the clips and release the side of the vent. It would help a first timer to know that the clips are part of the vent that you remove and not a part of the surround. So then you have a little better idea of retracting them to clear the holders.

Once the vent was safely out of the way I could see the subject fan down below. It ran fine and only makes noise on first startup on a cold or cool morning. Once the car is heated the noise goes away. I decided to try just lubricating the device before getting into a complete fan-ectomy. So I was able to get my hand down the vent hole and hold the foam insulation back away from the end of the motor enough to get some lub down there. The noise is gone at this point in time, of course the weather is warmer and it might not make any noise anyway. So I will await colder weather and see if a simple lub job will solve my problem. If not I will probably ask for a bit more guidance from you experienced folks for the fan-ectomy. Thanks for all the follow-up advice. This work is on a 124 body, a '93 300TE 4Matic. srharvey

'82 380SL, 125M
'83 240D, 240M
'93 300TE 4Matic, 284M

Sherri Makela · #12 05-31-2007, 12:42 AM

Thanks to the great info. on the aspirator blow.... You described exactly what has been driving me crazy all week. I thought it might be something stuck in the vent, as it started sporadically. Is it really an easy thing to do without taking it in to a 'professional'? What exactly is 'broken', as I do not notice anything not working (except for my nerves at this point).

My '91 300e has been a great workhorse. Stop and Go all day long, 350K miles, and still going strong!!!

SRHARVEY · #13 05-31-2007, 07:16 AM

Sherri, sorry I don't have more encouraging news but I never got to fix the little blower myself. As it turned out we had to have the evaporator replaced and that was a major job to remove the dash, etc., almost everything between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. While all that was apart I asked to have that blower replaced in the rt. hand vent. That was the source of the noise and a new blower took care of it. They also replaced many light bulbs we had forgotten about. The whole dash looked like a Christmas tree when we first drove the car at night. We're radidly approaching 300M miles on that wagon, it's a 4Matic, and its been a great vehicle.

Good luck with your repair, spraying lubricant down the vent is a bit like shooting a shotgun in the dark but you just might hit the right spot. I should have taken a better look at the removed fan that would have given me a better idea on whether spraying any lubricant could reach the dry bearing.

srharvey,